Patents by Inventor Thomas Wade Fallin
Thomas Wade Fallin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10342529Abstract: Improved surgical instruments are provided including improved suture passers, improved drill guides for forming holes in bones adjacent a joint at locations referenced to the joint anatomy, and improved osteotomy guides.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2012Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, M. Mary Sinnott, Kwan-Ho Chan, Patrick M. White
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Patent number: 10335138Abstract: Certain embodiments relate to method of passing a suture through a material using a suture passer. In certain embodiments, the suture passer includes a housing defining a linear motion axis, a needle mounted for translation along the motion axis, and a foot mounted to the housing. The foot has a distal portion with a proximal facing surface extending along a distal portion axis crossing the motion axis and a distal facing surface, the distal portion including an opening in the proximal facing surface aligned with the motion axis and able to receive the needle in the second position. In certain embodiments, a method includes positioning a distal portion of the foot of the suture passer behind the material, extending the needle through the material and into the opening in the distal portion, and retracting the needle to retrieve a bight of suture from the distal portion proximally through the material.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: M. Mary Sinnott, Thomas Wade Fallin
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Patent number: 10149963Abstract: Devices and methods are provided to conduct fluid away from or deliver fluid to an area of a treatment site of a patient's body. In one aspect of the invention, a catheter includes a terminal end with a fluid exchange portion. The terminal end may further include a diffuser. The terminal end may further include a barrier.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2016Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Vital 5, LLCInventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, Jean-Sebastien Merette, Patrick Michel White
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Patent number: 9907558Abstract: A guide and method useful in cutting and rejoining bones is presented. The guide is particularly useful in performing an osteotomy of a long bone adjacent a joint such as a hand or foot.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, M. Mary Sinnott
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Publication number: 20160287246Abstract: Instruments and techniques to pass a suture, particularly in instances where access to confined spaces and the ability to pass a suture through difficult to penetrate materials are needed. The instruments and techniques are particularly useful in surgery of the hands and feet.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: M. Mary Sinnott, Thomas Wade Fallin
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Patent number: 9446224Abstract: Devices and methods are provided to conduct fluid away from or deliver fluid to an area of a treatment site of a patient's body. In one example, a catheter includes a fluid exchange portion and a member attached to the fluid exchange portion for biasing fluid flow at the treatment site.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Vital 5, L.L.C.Inventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, Jean-Sebastien Merette, Patrick Michel White, Frank Phillips, Kern Singh
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Publication number: 20160206850Abstract: Devices and methods are provided to conduct fluid away from or deliver fluid to an area of a treatment site of a patient's body. In one aspect of the invention, a catheter includes a terminal end with a fluid exchange portion. The terminal end may further include a diffuser. The terminal end may further include a barrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, Jean-Sebastien Merette, Patrick Michel White
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Patent number: 9357997Abstract: Instruments and techniques to pass a suture, particularly in instances where access to confined spaces and the ability to pass a suture through difficult to penetrate materials are needed. According to certain embodiments, a suture passer is provided including a housing, a needle assembly, and a barrel assembly. The needle assembly may include a needle that is displaceable along a linear motion axis of the housing, and which is adapted to engage a suture. The barrel assembly may include a foot having an opening in a proximal facing surface to receive passage of the needle. The foot may include an elbow having proximal and distal portions, with the proximal portion having a distal facing surface that extends along a proximal portion axis diverging distally away from the motion axis, and the distal portion extending distally from the proximal portion and having a proximal facing surface that extends along a distal portion axis that is arranged transverse to the motion axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: M. Mary Sinnott, Thomas Wade Fallin
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Patent number: 9265913Abstract: Devices and methods are provided to conduct fluid away from or deliver fluid to an area of a treatment site of a patient's body. In one aspect of the invention, a catheter includes a terminal end with a fluid exchange portion. The terminal end may further include a diffuser. The terminal end may further include a barrier.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Vital 5, LLCInventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, Jean-Sebastien Merette, Frank Phillips, Kern Singh, Patrick Michel White
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Patent number: 8784427Abstract: A guide and method for cutting bones adjacent a joint at locations referenced to the joint anatomy is presented.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, M. Mary Sinnott, Patrick Michel White
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Publication number: 20140188139Abstract: Improved surgical instruments are provided including improved suture passers, improved drill guides for forming holes in bones adjacent a joint at locations referenced to the joint anatomy, and improved osteotomy guides.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2012Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.Inventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, M. Mary Sinnott, Kwan-Ho Chan, Patrick M. White
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Patent number: 8556936Abstract: A prosthesis for the replacement of at least a portion of the bone of a facet located on a mammalian vertebra, comprising: an articulating surface that articulates with another facet; a bone contacting surface that contacts a surface of the vertebra, the articulating surface being connected to the bone contacting surface; and a fixation element that attaches the bone contacting surface to the vertebra, the fixation element being adapted for implantation into an interior bone space of a pedicle of the vertebra; wherein the prosthesis is configured so that no portion of the prosthesis contacts the posterior arch of the vertebra.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: GMEDELAWARE 2 LLCInventors: Eugene Marlowe Goble, Thomas Wade Fallin, Robert W. Hoy, Daniel F. Justin, Alan Chervitz, Jude Paganelli, Daniel J. Triplett
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Publication number: 20120245512Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed to conduct fluid away from or deliver fluid to an area of a treatment site of a patient's body. For example, a catheter is provided having a terminal end with a non-linear shape such that fluid is delivered to or drained from an area of a treatment site.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: VITAL 5, LLCInventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, Jean-Sebastien Merette, Patrick Michel White, Alan Chervitz, Cary R. Reeves
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Patent number: 8241367Abstract: Modular bone implants, modes of assembly, and their method of use are presented.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2010Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignees: Zimmer, Inc., Zimmer Technology, Inc.Inventors: Daniel F. Justin, E. Marlowe Goble, Thomas Wade Fallin, Nathan A. Hammond, Daniel J. Triplett, Robert A. Hodorek, Daniel Gerbec, Gordon Baker
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Patent number: 8192465Abstract: Interspinous implants including a spacer configured to fit between first and second adjacent spinous processes of a human spine, to maintain a minimum separation between the spinous processes. An implant also includes a fixation portion coupled to the spacer, in which the fixation portion engages at least one spinous process to hold the spacer in a stable position relative to the spinous process. An implant may be monolithic, non-fillable, and may be inserted between the spinous process from a lateral approach. The fixation portion may be configured as a bracket which can substantially encircle the spinous process, or as flanges which engage lateral sides of the spinous process(es). The spacer may be resilient, and may be expandable along the anterior/posterior direction between the spinous processes. An implant may provide resilient resistance during extension, and/or a uniform extension stop between the spinous processes.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: MedicineLodge. Inc.Inventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, Joshua A. Butters, Greta Jo Hays
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Patent number: 8187306Abstract: Interspinous implants including a spacer configured to fit between first and second adjacent spinous processes of a human spine, to maintain a minimum separation between the spinous processes. An implant also includes a fixation portion coupled to the spacer, in which the fixation portion engages at least one spinous process to hold the spacer in a stable position relative to the spinous process. An implant may be monolithic, non-fillable, and may be inserted between the spinous process from a lateral approach. The fixation portion may be configured as a bracket which can substantially encircle the spinous process, or as flanges which engage lateral sides of the spinous process(es). The spacer may be resilient, and may be expandable along the anterior/posterior direction between the spinous processes. An implant may provide resilient resistance during extension, and/or a uniform extension stop between the spinous processes.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Medicine Ledge IncInventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, Joshua A. Butters, Greta Jo Hays
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Publication number: 20120078220Abstract: Devices and methods are provided to conduct fluid away from or deliver fluid to an area of a treatment site of a patient's body. In one aspect of the invention, a catheter includes a terminal end with a fluid exchange portion. The terminal end may further include a diffuser. The terminal end may further include a barrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: VITAL 5, LLCInventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, Jean-Sebastien Merette, Frank Phillips, Kern Singh, Patrick Michel White
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Publication number: 20120071814Abstract: Devices and methods are provided to conduct fluid away from or deliver fluid to an area of a treatment site of a patient's body. In one example, a catheter includes a fluid exchange portion and a member attached to the fluid exchange portion for biasing fluid flow at the treatment site.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: VITAL 5, LLCInventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, Jean-Sebastien Merette, Patrick Michel White, Frank Phillips, Kern Singh
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Publication number: 20120016428Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a method includes locating an anchor attachment point on a first elongated bone with a first bone axis, locating a second anchor attachment point on a second elongated bone with a second bone axis, the second bone axis being misaligned relative to the first bone axis and the bones being separated by an articulating joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: MTP SOLUTIONS, LLCInventors: Patrick Michel White, Thomas Wade Fallin
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Patent number: D679804Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2011Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Vital 5, LLCInventors: Patrick Michel White, Kern Singh, Frank M. Phillips, Jean-Sebastien Merette, Thomas Wade Fallin